Wildberries depot destroyed as Ukraine extends drone campaign in Russia

Key Points:

• Ukrainian long-range drones struck a major warehouse of Russia’s largest online retailer, Wildberries, in the Tambov region for the second time in five weeks, causing a fire that destroyed the facility and injuring two people.
• The attacks on Wildberries facilities, located hundreds of kilometers from the Ukrainian border, are part of Ukraine’s aerial campaign targeting Russian e-commerce and military supply chains, aiming to disrupt the Russian economy and unsettle civilians far from the front lines.
• Ukraine also targeted a Lukoil oil refinery in Nizhny Novgorod, causing a fire; this refinery is significant due to its large processing capacity, highlighting Ukraine’s focus on critical energy infrastructure in Russia.
• In response to repeated drone strikes on critical infrastructure, Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized the state to temporarily seize control of facilities if private owners fail to protect or rebuild them, signaling pressure on companies to invest in security despite financial burdens.
• Russia continues its missile and drone attacks on Ukraine, causing civilian casualties, while Russian forces claim to have shot down hundreds of Ukrainian drones across multiple regions overnight, reflecting the ongoing intense aerial conflict between the two countries.